Tooth Loss in Adults (Age 20 to 64)

Main Content

Overall, the prevalence of both partial and total tooth loss in adults has decreased from the early 1970s until the latest (1999-2004) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

Tables 1 and 2 present information about tooth loss for adults age 20 to 64 years and for selected population groups.

Older adults, Black and Hispanic adults, current smokers, and those with lower incomes and less education are more likely to have no remaining teeth.

Table 1: Adults, Mean Number of Permanent Teeth Remaining

Mean number of permanent teeth among adults age 20 to 64 years of age, by selected characteristics:United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004

​​Characteristic

Mean Number of Permanent Teeth

Age

20 to 34 years

26.90

35 to 49 years

25.05

50 to 64 years

22.30

Sex

Male

25.06

Female

24.90

Race and Ethnicity

White, non-Hispanic

25.23

Black, non-Hispanic

23.68

Mexican American

25.32

Poverty Status (Income compared to Federal Poverty Level)

Less than 100%

23.52

100% to 199%

23.64

Greater than 200%

25.48

Education

Less than High School

23.10

High School

24.35

More than High School

25.76

Smoking History

Current Smoker

23.47

Former Smoker

25.12

Never Smoked

25.67

Overall

24.98

Data Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been an important source of information on oral health and dental care in the United States since the early 1970s. Tables 1 and 2 present the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding tooth loss in adults.

Table 2: Adults, Number with No Remaining Teeth

Mean number of permanent teeth among adults age 20 to 64 years of age, by selected characteristics:United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004

​​Characteristic

Percentage with no Remaining Teeth

Age

20 to 34 years

(not enough data)

35 to 49 years

2.63

50 to 64 years

10.13

Sex

Male

3.79

Female

3.72

Race and Ethnicity

White, non-Hispanic

3.96

Black, non-Hispanic

4.14

Mexican American

1.51

Poverty Status (Income compared to Federal Poverty Level)

Less than 100%

9.28

100% to 199%

6.48

Greater than 200%

2.35

Education

Less than High School

8.07

High School

5.41

More than High School

1.66

Smoking History

Current Smoker

7.79

Former Smoker

3.57

Never Smoked

1.55

Overall

3.76

Data Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been an important source of information on oral health and dental care in the United States since the early 1970s. Tables 1 and 2 present the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding tooth loss in adults.